On 29 November 2019, a fruit garden was established in Goychay district within a long-term project - Fruit Gardens that aims to improve the welfare of low-income families in the regions of Azerbaijan. The project is run by IDEA, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

During the tree-planting event, a total of 1000 pomegranate trees were planted on a 2-hectare area. The established garden was divided between local families, who will be growing and harvesting the trees sustaining and improving their income.

The first such fruit-tree-planting was launched with participation of IDEA founder and FAO Goodwill Ambassador Leyla Aliyeva in April of 2017. The gardens have already been established first in Ismayilli and, later in Shamkir, Aghstafa, Tovuz, Aghdash, Gakh, Lankaran, Beylagan, Sabirabad, Aghjabadi, Barda, Lerik, Guba, Gabala, Imishli, Goygol, Gazakh, Balakan, Aghsu, Oghuz, Yevlakh, Astara, Shabran and Khachmaz districts, having been distributed among low-income families, including the war veterans and a martyr’s family members.

The project carries an important social, economic and environmental impact, helping the impoverished families of the country generate income in a sustainable way and improve their livelihoods, as well as contribute to efforts to lower the country’s dependency on the import of agricultural products.

Nearly 26,618 trees of hazelnut, pomegranate, apricot, feijoa, date, walnut, apple and almond species were planted and allocated to a total of 81 low-income families within the project.

Fruit gardens are expected to be established throughout the rest of the country.

Special thanks go to the 200 helpful volunteers of Goychay who joined and everyone who supported the event.